Pasta Entrées

Here’s one of my favorite uses for vegan sausage. The bold flavor is used to full advantage in this hearty Creole-flavored pasta dish. If you have more time, make a pan ofvegan corn bread, it’s a wonderful addition to this meal, as is Creole Coleslaw. more→

For this simple and delectable dish of pasta, asparagus and peas, use slender asparagus and you won’t need to scrape the stalks. With its creamy sauce (made of silken tofu), you can think of it as a kind of vegan alfredo, boosted by lots of veggies.more→

One evening a while back, I had about one hour to make dinner for the family—and eat—between getting home from one activity and going out to another. I improvised based on what was in the fridge rather than following a recipe. This was the result; everyone liked this simple dish so much that I set down a recipe for it, and have followed it many times since. Serve with a salad of fresh greens and tomatoes (toss in some beans and chickpeas for extra protein), fresh bread, and your favorite wine. Photos by Evan Atlas.

This is an embellished version of pasta aglia olio (garlic and oil), an Italian classic suitable for warm weather, but welcome any time you crave a light yet satisfying pasta dish. It’s especially good when tender small zucchini come to market in midsummer.

This hearty pasta dish featuring broccoli and red beans, flavored with miso, is a sturdy, everyday dish, fusing Italian and Asian flavors. You can use any kind of small red bean, but adzuki beans are especially good in this. You’re less likely to find them in cans, but they don’t take as long as other bean varieties to cook. Photos by Evan Atlas.more→

Pasta, beans and greens is a classic trio in Italian cookery. It’s easy to see why—the combination is healthful and hearty. Escarole is a sturdy green whose slight bitterness is tempered by cooking. You’ll find it near the lettuces in the produce section. If you’d like, you can substitute an equal amount of curly chicory, or a medium-sized bunch of chard. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky. more→

This pasta dish, combining rotini with white beans, needs only a tossed salad and a steamed green veggie to complete the meal. Try this with whole-grain or spelt pasta for an even heartier result. more→